A01M9/0092

Metering system for distributing particulate material
11555726 · 2023-01-17 · ·

A metering system for distributing particulate material includes a meter housing containing a metering wheel. An inlet and/or outlet of the meter housing provides a projection extending into the opening of the inlet and/or outlet so that the flow of particulate material is optimized. This can provide even distribution of such material, including at low rotating speeds such as 5 RPM, while using a polyurethane metering wheel with straight vanes. In one aspect, projections extending into the inlet on opposing sides can substantially form an hourglass shape, and the outlet can comprise a substantially diagonal shape, analogous to a parallelogram, instead of more traditional rounded/rectangular shapes.

MILESTONE PREDICTION OF FUEL AND CHEMICAL USAGE

Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for milestone prediction of fuel and chemical usage. An example apparatus includes one or more memories comprising computer readable instructions; one or more processors to execute the computer readable instructions to determine a current amount of fuel required without halt and a current fuel consumption rate for a machine during a harvesting event in a field based on a first amount of fuel required without halt, a first fuel consumption rate, and real time information from sensors of the machine, and determine a real time amount of fuel required based on the current amount of fuel required without halt, the current fuel consumption rate, and a halt time for the machine during the harvesting event, the one or more processors to use the real time amount of fuel required to schedule fuel delivery for the machine.

Agricultural product delivery applicator with a pneumatic conveying system having a distributor assembly

An agricultural product delivery applicator for delivering particulate product to a field and including a pneumatic conveying system. The pneumatic conveying system includes an airflow source to provide an airflow, first and second delivery lines operably connected to the airflow source and to a supply compartment. Each delivery line includes a respective supply line and a respective plurality of distribution lines. The pneumatic conveying system further includes first and second distributors coupling the respective supply line with the respective plurality of distribution lines, a first mounting plate coupled to the first distributor and having a first identifier, a second mounting plate coupled to the second distributor and having a second identifier, a first motor having a relation with the first identifier, and a second motor having a relation to the second identifier.

DETECTING AND TREATING A TARGET FROM A MOVING PLATFORM

A method includes receiving, by the treatment system, during operation in an agricultural environment, one or more images comprising one or more agricultural objects in the agricultural environment, identifying, in real-time, one or more objects of interest from the one or more agricultural objects by analyzing the one or more images, wherein the analyzing results in a first object being identified as belonging to one or more target objects and a second object being identified as not belonging to the one or more target objects, logging one or more results of the identification of each of the one or more objects of interest and a corresponding treatment decision; and activating the treatment mechanism to treat the one or more target objects.

EVALUATING PEFORMANCE OF AN AUTONOMOUS TREATMENT SYSTEM IN AN AGRICULTRUAL ENVIRONMENT

Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an agricultural observation and treatment system and method of operation. The system uses a pump in combination with a fluid regulator to obtain and disperse fluid from the fluid tanks. The fluid regulator includes a fluid input port, a fluid output port and a fluid control valve. A first tube fluidly coupled from the fluid pump to the fluid input port. The system includes a moveable treatment head having one or more spraying tips, including a first spraying tip. A second tube is fluidly coupled from the fluid output port to the moveable treatment head. A system includes a controller configured to provide to the fluid regulator to open and close the fluid control valve to release an amount of the first fluid.

System and process for dispensing multiple and low rate agricultural products

A system for dispensing agricultural products includes: a master controller, sets of agricultural product containers, meter devices, and secondary controllers. The meter devices are operatively connected to the product containers and configured to dispense products from the containers to rows in a field wherein each of the sets of containers is associated with a respective row in the field. The secondary controllers actuate the meter devices. Each secondary controller receives command data from the master controller and controls the meter devices for dispensing in response to the command data. Agricultural product from each product container is dispensed in accordance with operator defined instructions to the master controller. The instructions are capable of being provided to the master controller during the planting allowing the dispensing of individual containers to be controlled. In one embodiment the invention is a process for dispensing agricultural products at low application rates utilizing precision placement equipment.

SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING PRESCRIPTIVE APPLICATION OF MULTIPLE PRODUCTS

A system for dispensing crop input products from multiple meters per crop row, including: a) a georeferencing module configured to receive and process georeferenced location information; b) a prescriptive control module configured to receive the processed georeferenced location information from the georeferencing module and utilize the georeferenced location information to generate specific prescriptive rate information for individual meters in the field; and, c) a meter controller module operatively connected to the prescriptive control module. The meter controller module is configured to utilize the specific prescriptive rate information to individually control multiple meters per crop row, to simultaneously dispense crop input products at specific prescriptive rates at georeferenced locations throughout the field.

Air boom distribution system
11246304 · 2022-02-15 · ·

A method of inhibiting dry material clogs in a work vehicle having an air boom assembly includes moving the work vehicle at a vehicle speed along a ground surface, moving dry material from a holding tank onto a conveyor, and operating the conveyor at a conveyor speed, the conveyor speed being at least partially dependent upon the vehicle speed, moving material from the conveyor into a boom assembly with a blower, dispensing the dry material onto the ground surface through a plurality of nozzles of the boom assembly, and comparing the conveyor speed to a maximum acceptable conveyor speed. If the conveyor speed is greater than the maximum acceptable conveyor speed, the method includes performing at least one of the following: alerting the operator that the conveyor speed is greater than the maximum acceptable speed, and reducing the vehicle speed to thereby reduce the speed of the conveyor.

PREDICTIVE WEED MAP AND MATERIAL APPLICATION MACHINE CONTROL

A predictive map is obtained by an agricultural material application system. The predictive map maps predictive weed values at different geographic locations in a field. A geographic position sensor detects a geographic locations of an agricultural material application machine at the field. A control system generates a control signal to control the agricultural material application machine based on the geographic locations of the agricultural material application machine and the predictive map.

SECTIONAL CONTROL FOR AIR BOOM SPREADER

A product distribution system for sectional control in an air boom spreader has a solid product metering assembly having: a first endless conveyor and a second endless conveyor for conveying the product from the container to the air system, the first and second endless conveyors substantially parallel to each other, the first conveyor driven independently of the second conveyor; and, a first shaft, a second shaft and a third shaft, the first shaft parallel to, separated from and driven independently of the second shaft, the second shaft parallel to and separated from the third shaft, the first shaft driving the first conveyor, the second shaft driving the third shaft to drive the second conveyor.